day 1 alice koech - atu - digital economy
TRANSCRIPT
Digital Economy
African Telecommunications Union
Alice KOECHProgram Coordinator
[email protected], [email protected] www.atu-uat.org
a presentation to Innovation Africa Digital Summit 2015, Harare - Zimbabwe
April 2015
1. Overview of ATU
2. Digital economy – the definition
3. Enablers
4. Emerging business opportunities
5. The case of Kenya
6. Macro-trends in the digital economy
7. Impact of digital economy
8. Recommendations
9. Role of ATU in promoting digital economies
10. Conclusions
April 2015
• Established in 1977 in Kinshasa – DRC, as Pan-African Telecommunications Union (PATU) as a specialized agency of AOU for telecommunications. Re-named as African Telecommunications Union (ATU) in 1999 still as specialized agency of AU for telecommunications
• Has four permanent organs (1. Plenipotentiaries Conference; 2. Administrative Council; 3. Technical and Development Conference, and 4. General Secretariat -headquartered in Nairobi – Kenya)
• Provides for non-permanent organs • Currently has 46 Member States and 22 Associate Members• However, all African countries actively participate in ATU activities• Increased partnerships: e.g. ISOC, African Institute• Key programs: Policy and regulatory development; Spectrum Management, Capacity
building; ICT Infrastructure development; Preparatory work for International ICT conferences such as WRCs, WTSA, WTDC,
April 2015
• ‘the postindustrial world economy based on internet trading and advanced technology’ [The Free Dictionary]
• ‘economic system based on online business transactions’ [QFINANCE]
• ‘an economy that is based on digital technologies’ [Wikipedia]
April 2015
1. Mobile money transfer (e.g. Mpesa)2. Internet based shops (e.g. Jumia)3. Internet banking (e.g. barclays.com)4. E-services such as e-farming and marketing
(e.g. m-farm)5. Targeted advertising (Facebook)6. Travel and tourism (e.g booking.com)7. Bitcoin ? (Digital currency) yet to take off
April 2015
1. Enabling legislation
2. User registration such as SIM registration
3. Accessible and affordable ICTs
4. Secure networks
5. Innovative and intuitive applications
6. Improvement in ICT literacy levels
April 2015
April 2015
High access to ICTs
Kenya’s digital
economy
Innovative and intuitive applications,
e.g. Mpesa
Collaboration between the banks and ICT operators: Transfer of funds
betwneen Mpesa and bank accounts
Enabling legislation: e.g. SIM registration
April 2015
1. Mobile money transactions are far more than the transactions via the traditional banks
2. Mobile money users are by far more than the bank account holders3. Mobile money is akin to banking for the majority of the users with the
National Geographic Society calling it ‘Invisible bank’4. Mobile money and hence digital economy is seen as playing a major role in
the Kenya’s sustained economic growth
April 2015
1. Increasing appreciation of governments of the crucial role of digital economies
2. Huge increases in volumes of money transacted via digital economy
3. Increases in peoples’ participation in digital economy
4. More accessible and affordable ICTs
5. More trust in digital economy platforms due to increase in secure networks
6. More innovative and intuitive applications addressing particular needs
7. Improvement in ICT literacy levels
April 2015
Some Positives
1. Social-economic development: improved social-economic growth as result of speedy transactions and more economic activity
2. Environmentally friendly: Less travel associated with physical shopping/transactions means less burning of fuels
3. Less money losses due to mugging: Less or no physical carrying of paper money means less mugging
Some Negatives:
1. Increase in white-collar fraud: White-collar crimes can easily be committed from the comfort of the fraudsters
2. Job losses due automation of some business actions
April 2015
1. Enabling legislation: reformation of the law to allow for collaboration between the banking and ICT sectors
2. User registration such as SIM registration: legal identification of persons undertaking transactions
3. Accessible and affordable broadband: full implementation of USFs and other programmes
4. Secure networks: development and implementation of harmonized cyber-security policies including country, regional and continental CERTs
5. Innovative and intuitive applications: development and implementation of innovative and intuitive applications to foster uptake by the masses
6. Improvement in ICT literacy levels: development and implementation of ICT literacy programs for the masses
April 2015
ATU’s role in fostering digital economies is found and summarized in its strategic plan pillars for 2015 – 2018, namely:
1. Institutional capacity & strategic partnership2. Enabling environment 3. Innovation and talent development4. Infrastructure development
5. Content and applications
April 2015
1. Digital economies are visible in Africa and have played a key role in Africa’s sustained economic growth particularly in the view of the recent global economic slow down
2. However, as highlighted in the recommendations, much remains to be done in the area of broadband accessibility and trust issues
3. ATU stands ready to play its role in fostering digital economies in Africa
April 2015
thank you
Alice KOECHProgram Coordinator
[email protected], [email protected] www.atu-uat.org
April 2015